Evaluation of Health and Safety Management on Building Construction Sites in Benue State

Abstract

Worried by the frequent occurrence of accidents in building sites in Benue State, the researchers conducted an evaluation of health and safety management on building construction sites in Benue State. The study was guided by three research questions and hypotheses. The study adopted the survey research design. The population of the study comprises 600 site managers, supervisors, artisans and labourers. A sample of 120 site workers was selected using multiple stage sampling techniques. The research instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled: Health and Safety Management on Building Construction Sites Questionnaire. The instrument was validated by two Building Technology Lecturers in the Department of Vocational and Technical Education and one expert in Educational Research and Measurement, all in the Faculty of Education, Benue State University, Makurdi. Upon successful validation, the instrument was trial tested in order to determine the reliability. Split half reliability method time was used and when compared the halves were found to be same indicating that the instrument was reliable and ready to use. The researcher personally moves from one building site to another in Gboko, Makurdi and Otukpo to administer the questionnaire to the respondents. Mean and standard deviation were used for answering the research questions and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistical tool was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance, where F-calculated or F-critical was less than 0.05, the hypothesis was rejected otherwise it was not rejected. The finding revealed that major accidents occurring on building construction site in Benue State are workers falling from height, followed by one been struck by an object and the least of them is someone having contact with electricity. It was found that the causes of accidents on building construction sites in Benue State are; excessive working hours resulting in mental fatigue, horseplay by workers, Unsafe act or non-compliance behaviour, inadequate maintenance of tools and equipment, communication issues and drugs and alcohol among others. The finding also shows that health and safety measures are which could be taken are health and safety training, strict monitoring and enforcement of safety regulation, effective communication system on site, regular and frequent breaks for rest, use of personal protective equipment. Protected edges, safe access and secure edge protection and use of appropriate scaffolding with good edge protection should be made available on the building construction site to reduce falling from height. It was recommended among others that construction companies should increase the quality and quantity of health and safety supervisors since poor supervision is the main reason which is responsible for the accident occurrence and that each construction company should develop and implement their own health and safety policy.